Disclaimer: Obviously the characters and general themes concerning the characters are all property of Tamora Pierce. The only intellectual property I own in the fic is the plot.
N.B. As this is my first story ever I would really appreciate reviews as well as constructive criticisms and comments.
RETURNING Chapter 1:The wind slowly rose in a weak crescendo as the sun set yet again on another gloomy day. For the young mage, even the atmosphere could not destroy the happy occasion. Clad in shirts and trousers of an off-white hue, which seemed to hug his wiry frame, his faint tan made him seem a foreigner in these parts. Reality was, Briar Moss was born in Sotat but had spent most of his life in Emelan. His slightly darkened complexion was a result of the prolonged stay firstly in Chammur and later in distant Yanjing. Although usual in his build Briar was no novice to his art, already achieving great fame and full mage-hood along with his foster sisters.
In contrast to his relaxed form, his teacher was in a constant fidget to locate particularly interesting plant forms taking no heed of the fact that they were finally returning to Winding Circle after their three year sojourn. On his other side, Evvy was grumbling yet again about the trip.
"Are we there yet" she whined for what Briar considered to be the fiftieth time since lunch. "My backside is really chafing on this horse. You would think that the saddle would help but they had to make it as hard as a rock!"
Rosethorn as always close enough to eavesdrop on the interchange deliberately moved away to let Briar deal with his own problems.
"You don't mind sitting on rocks so why complain", he snapped back at his student with a faint smile.
Chagrined that he had found the flaw in her words, Evvy settled back down but not without her continual grumbling.
"Your student is right though", Rosethorn intoned as she slowly edged to his side. "Without this gloomy weather for the past month we should have arrived at Discipline al least two days ago. This and all the constant bandit attacks have just makes it harder to move.
"Don't worry", Briar replied, "we have all those protection balls ready and Evvy has the stone path around her."
"It's not that. What's worrying me is the attacks. They all use the same strategy and somehow we don't see them until they've almost touched our warding.
Briar had noticed it too. It wasn't usual that bandits had mages in their arson but the attacks suggested forms of magic at play. Still he dismissed the troubling though as he remembered where he was going. Three years was really too long to be away from home and the circle. Even with the three girls plus the brat he was hauling home to torture him, once he got there seemed a small price to pay. Tris and Daja unfortunately were at least another month away in their travels so that left Sandry and Lark at home.
He was just mulling over Sandry's expression when he arrived, when Evvy's shriek broke through his reverie. Two men with drawn swords and masking hoods had leapt onto the road. Then the ground literally exploded under his horse…